Neetu David: An India legend - both on and off the field
A prolific spinner with more than 100 appearances for her country, Neetu David is the second woman from India to make it into the ICC Hall of Fame following the induction of Diana Edulji in 2023.
By Jonathan Healy
David is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in women's ODI cricket with 141 scalps and was also the first female player from India to claim 100 ODI wickets.
She still holds the record for the best figures by a woman in an individual Test innings with 8/53 against England in 1995 and has more recently continued her ongoing love affair with cricket by holding the important off-field position as selection chair of India's women's team.
Neetu David inducted in ICC Hall of Fame:
Neetu David: ICC Hall of Fame 2024 inductee
Getting a start in international cricket
Following some impressive performances with the ball at domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh, David won a first international appearance for India as a spritely 17-year-old in a Test match against New Zealand in Nelson in 1995.
She impressed with four wickets in that contest and was again selected for the ODI portion of that tour as India claimed the New Zealand Women's Centenary Tournament.
But it was later that same year that David really rose to prominence as she claimed sensational figures of 8/53 - still to this day the best individual bowling spell in a single innings of a women's Test - against England in Jamshedpur as India fell to a narrow two-run loss.
While David excelled at Test level with 41 wickets from 10 matches, it was perhaps in ODI cricket that she performed best with 141 scalps from 97 matches at a miserly bowling average of 16.34.
David (right) alongside teammates in 2005 // Getty Images
A trio of World Cups for India
Those 97 ODI appearances took David to three ICC Women's Cricket World Cup tournaments for India, with the first one of those coming in 1997 on home soil.
While India were bundled out of the tournament in the semi-final stage by eventual champions Australia, David claimed five wickets from as many matches at the event at an excellent economy rate of 2.22.
It was a similar story for David at the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand, with the left-armer picking up another five wickets as India lost to the hosts in the semi-finals as the Kiwis went on to win their first and only World Cup title.
It was no surprise that David's best effort at a World Cup came five years later in South Africa in 2005 when she finished as the leading wicket-taker at the event with 20 scalps as India made it all the way to the final before losing to Australia.
David retired from international cricket in 2006, only to reverse that decision two years later for a brief return in ODI cricket at the Asia Cup and on India’s tour of England.
She played her final domestic match in 2013, calling time on an illustrious playing career by helping Railways to the 2012–13 Senior Women's T20 League title.
David’s role as chief selector has India on the rise
While David's playing career was impressive on its own, her efforts as an administrator in recent times in her role as selection chair of India's women's team has arguably already surpassed her cricketing exploits.
David won the role in September 2020 and had to oversee the transition of an India team that had to usher in some young talent following the retirements of former greats Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
David has been partly responsible for the growth of current India stars like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh as they have established themselves at international level, while continuing to look for ways off the field to boost the performance of the national side.
Words from Edulji
Joining Diana Edulji as the only women from India to be inducted, Neetu was welcomed by her compatriot in an open letter.
In the letter, Edulji stated that Hall of Fame selection was the "biggest vindication" for the hard work and toil across her international career.
"To me, you were one of the best spinners I have ever seen. Your technique and skill that allowed you to generate such flight and dip was par excellence.
Off the pitch, you have been a firm friend throughout the years, and I am delighted to be able to welcome you into the ICC Hall of Fame. There are few higher honours in our sport, and to be the only two Indian women currently inducted is a special bond between the two of us."